"What!"
If Nick Fury had managed to stay relatively composed upon hearing that John Garrett was Hydra, learning that Alexander Pierce was also part of Hydra truly shook him to the core. The look on his face could only be described as horrified.
He had taken over the reins of S.H.I.E.L.D. directly from Alexander Pierce. Without Pierce's strong recommendation, Nick might never have become Director in the first place. Many of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources and funding were secured through Pierce's efforts—now serving as the Secretary of the World Security Council—who had gone to great lengths to support him.
To Nick Fury, Alexander Pierce wasn't just a mentor and former superior. He had always seen him as a trusted ally—someone who shared his ideals.
"No wonder… No wonder I was nearly assassinated right after beginning my investigation. Apart from Pierce, no one else at that level in S.H.I.E.L.D. could have orchestrated it."
As much as he didn't want to believe it, everything clicked into place now. Replacing the image of Pierce with that of Hydra's mastermind made the entire conspiracy horrifyingly logical.
"Is there anyone else? Do you have a full list of Hydra operatives within S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Fury asked, lifting his head.
Carl turned around and spread his hands.
"The base was about to explode, and we had to evacuate quickly. We didn't manage to extract a complete list. The only two individuals we could confirm were John Garrett and Alexander Pierce," Carl said calmly.
"But based on the data we did recover, we can reasonably infer that a majority of your agents in S.H.I.E.L.D. have already defected to Hydra."
He had given up Pierce's identity so that Fury wouldn't be left completely in the dark—especially not to the point of summoning Captain Marvel prematurely. As for Garrett, that was personal. Carl held a grudge against him.
But the rest? He had no intention of exposing them.
If Nick Fury were to dismantle Hydra in one fell swoop using information he handed over, that wouldn't serve Carl's interests. What he needed was a careful balance between the two powers—so he could benefit while they tore each other apart.
Even if Fury did eventually eradicate Hydra, it would be after suffering major losses. At that point, Fury wouldn't be in any position to push Carl around.
"Very well, Mr. Carl," Fury said at last. "Thank you for the information. I've already ordered a sample of the Super Soldier Serum and the associated research data to be delivered. It should arrive shortly."
Fury wasn't disappointed. In fact, this exchange had yielded more than he'd expected.
He had initially assumed that unmasking someone like Garrett would be a massive win. He had planned to follow that lead slowly and carefully. But Carl had handed him Pierce—a man so high up the ladder that it shifted the entire game.
In truth, if Carl had handed over a full list of Hydra agents, Fury wouldn't have trusted it anyway. A group that had remained hidden inside S.H.I.E.L.D. for decades had to have airtight protocols. It was likely even Pierce didn't have a full list—let alone a single Hydra base in Sokovia.
Roughly ten minutes later, a red antique car, designed like a relic from the 1930s, soared over the Hudson Building's rooftop, leaving flaming trails in its wake. It landed slowly on the roof.
"Director, here's what you asked for."
A middle-aged agent with a receding hairline stepped out of the car, holding a compact metal case and wearing a faint smile.
His name was Coulson, one of Nick Fury's most trusted agents.
"This car… why does it look so familiar?"
Tony wasn't paying much attention to the box. What caught his interest was the flying antique Coulson had just arrived in. Something about it rang a bell.
"Her name is Laura. Mr. Howard Stark originally designed her. She's gone through countless modifications since and is now one of the most reliable experimental vehicles we have."
Coulson lit up at the mention of his prized car, launching into an enthusiastic explanation.
Tony's eyes narrowed slightly as memories stirred.
"Right... I remember my dad showed off a prototype at the Stark Expo in 1943. It didn't perform well then. We kept refining it, and eventually, we had a working model—but the production costs were insane, so we shelved it."
While Coulson and Tony chatted about Laura, Nick Fury walked over and handed the box to Carl.
"Mr. Carl, once again, thank you. If you uncover any more intel on Hydra, contact Agent Coulson. I hope we continue to work together as effectively as we did today."
"Of course."
Carl opened the case and found a vial of Super Soldier Serum along with a USB drive. He gave a satisfied nod.
Meanwhile, Coulson, still engrossed in his conversation with Tony, handed Carl a business card.
"Here's my number. Call me if anything comes up."
"Will do." Carl pocketed the card with a smile.
"If there's nothing else, we'll take our leave," Fury said, motioning toward the car.
Mission accomplished, he gestured to Coulson and Natasha. All three boarded the vehicle. Fury, now more alert than ever, had urgent plans to reorganize and counteract Hydra's infiltration.
Just as Laura lifted off, Carl suddenly called out:
"Ms. Natasha! Don't forget—you promised to go shopping with Wanda tomorrow. Don't break that promise. If Wanda's disappointed, I'll be upset. And if I'm upset… well, I might forget to share any more information about Hydra, got it?"
"Understood, Mr. Carl."
Natasha forced a smile, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly. But she nodded at Fury's silent signal.
As Laura disappeared into the night sky, Fury turned to Natasha.
"The mission didn't go quite as planned. But I'm guessing you still gathered something useful?"
"He has a team of highly trained and well-equipped bodyguards. He himself is no ordinary man—likely enhanced through some form of physical augmentation, as are his guards," Natasha began, her voice even.
"He's also extremely protective of his wife. He values her safety more than anything and acts accordingly. I'd say he's a devoted husband."
Fury's frown softened when he heard the last part. A knowing smirk tugged at his lips.
Not because he admired Carl's devotion—but because he might have just found Carl's greatest weakness. (T/N: weakness? Scarlet Witch as a weakness? 🤣🫣)